The growing rates of obesity in U.S. are alarming. The unhealthy nutrition habits, inactive lifestyle and psychological disorders (because of insecure family conditions) all account for obesity. The warning against obesity is coming from as multiple sources including physicians, nutrition specialists, psychologists and educators. The broad concern about obesity is, if anything, attributed to effects obesity has on human health on short and long ranges. Three effects only of obesity are discussed, for current purposes, in more detail: diabetes, high blood pressure and heart attacks.
Obesity causes diabetes. In a growing body of research, obesity is shown to increase levels of plasma leptin and non-esterified (i.e. non-reacting) fatty acids causing insulin resistance (Leong and Wilding). By resisting insulin, obese persons are more likely to contract diabetes. The short and long range risks of being diagnosed for diabetes cannot be overemphasized owing to difficulty in managing obesity. Indeed, a sustained weight loss is barely achievable by dietary management alone (Leong and Wilding). If anything, harmful effects of obesity resulting in diabetes can be avoided by a combination of education, hypocaloric (i.e. low-calorie) diets and physical exercise (Leong and Wilding). Still, preventive measures could be best preemptive action in order to avoid diabetes resulting from obesity.
Obesity causes high blood pressure. According to National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, overweight or obese persons are more likely to experience high blood pressure ("Health Risks of Overweight and Obesity?"). The risks and damages of high blood pressure resulting from obesity are far reaching and can lead to lifelong body damage, disability or a heart attack ("Mayo Clinic Staff"). The damages caused by heightened blood pressure levels affect proper functioning (if not complete dysfunction of) blood arteries, heart, brain and kidneys ("Mayo Clinic Staff").
Obesity causes heart attacks. According to World Heart Federation, obesity causes hypertension, diabetes and atherosclerosis, all of which put obese persons at heightened risks of contracting cardiovascular disease ("Obesity"). The process of contracting a heart attack as a result of obesity passes across a series of equally risky diseases. Specifically, obesity results in more intra-abdominal fat which, in turn, affects blood pressure ("Obesity"). The heightened levels of blood pressure lead to a decreased ability to use insulin effectively ("Obesity"). As noted above, by resisting insulin, obese persons are more likely to develop diabetes, a high risk factor of cardiovascular disease and heart attacks ("Obesity").
Overall, obesity is broad phenomenon in U.S. Due to unhealthy eating habits, lack of physical exercise, psychological disorders or all combined, obesity occurs. Being obese (as well as overweight) could cause diabetes, high blood pressure and heart attacks – all physiological, health risks. There are, of course, a broad range of precautions which can be adopted, particularly for children and older persons, in order to not only minimize health risks of obesity but also, more significantly, to preempt obesity. For one, healthy nutrition and regular physical exercise are most important precautions against obesity. In maintaining a healthy life, healthy food and regular physical exercise should be considered not be considered during crisis periods of obesity or overweight but should be embraced as integral to one's one life. Further, regular checks on blood pressure and insulin levels as well as cardiovascular activities should be performed in order to avoid possible long range, damaging effects.
Works Cited
"Obesity." World Heart Federation. World Heart Federation, n.d. Web. 5 April 2016.
"What Are the Health Risks of Overweight and Obesity?" National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Department of Health and Human Services, 13 July 2012. Web. 5 April 2016.
Leong, King Sun, and John P. Wilding. "Obesity and diabetes." Best Practice & Research Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 13.2 (1999). ScienceDirect. Web. 5 April 2016.
Mayo Clinic Staff. "High blood pressure dangers: Hypertension's effects on your body." Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 18 February 2014. Web. 5 April 2016.
